Still Questionable, Still Limping, Still the Only Question That Matters

Lamar Jackson was a limited participant in Thursday's practice — his second straight day of limited work after returning to the field Wednesday for the first time since the Week 4 ankle sprain. He remains listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Cincinnati.

The limp is the detail that keeps this from being a straightforward good-news story. Jackson walked into the facility favoring his left ankle after Wednesday's session, and the Ravens have not offered anything resembling a firm commitment on his availability. Day-to-day is the phrase they keep using, which at this point in the week means they genuinely don't know, or they're not saying.

Tyler Huntley has held the offense together through two straight starts — he's 568 passing yards and three touchdowns into his extended audition — but the Ravens are a different team with Jackson. The offense was built around his legs as much as his arm, and Cincinnati is an AFC North game with real divisional stakes for a 4-2 club that can't afford to sleepwalk into a loss. The Bengals will have had the full week to prepare for Huntley if that's where this lands.

Jackson's status should clarify by Friday. Until it does, the Ravens are in the same holding pattern they've been in all week: encouraged, not settled.